Key holder



; June 16, 1964 T. RALTON 3,137,157

KEY HOLDER Filed Sept. 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 45 48 INVENTOR.

5 i F 6.7 Theodore Ralron ATTORNEY.

T. RALTON KEY HOLDER June 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 6, 1962 INVENTOR. Theodore Rol'ron N mw Bum ATTOR N EY.

United States Patent C) 3,131,157 KEY HOLDER Theodore Ralton, 720 West End Ave., New York 25, N.Y.

Filed Sept. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 221,911 2 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) The present invention relates to a combination holder and locking handle for keys.

An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient holder for carrying an ordinary, frequently used key.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, foolproof mechanism for removing the key from inside its holder and locking itto the holder in a position which renders the key most easily insertable in a lock.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the insertion and retention of a key into the key holder of this invention and eliminating the necessity for complete or partial disassembly of the device.

Another object of the invention is to insure positive key retention in the holder by providing automatic key retaining lock means disposed within the casing andresponsive to the introduction of the key element to retain the same in the holder.

In brief, this inventionis directed to a combination key holder and handle in which a key may be selectively car- A slot 42 extends from upper face 28 to lower face 30 and ried in exposedor concealed position and which by actua- 7 tion of suitable latch means will automatically respond to move the key from one position to another. The invention further contemplates the inclusion of key securing means whereby a key element may be inserted into the holder and retained therein without the use of tools and without the necessity of disassembling the device to place the key therein.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of the key holder herein claimed.

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view of the key holder of FIGURE 1 showing the key in the extended position.

FIGURE 3 is a top sectional view of the key holder as taken across line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the key holder as taken across line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the key holder as taken across line 5--5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the key holder as taken across line 6--6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a side sectional view of the key holder of FIGURE 1 showing the key in the retracted position.

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of the sliding member and key.

FIGURE 9 is a side sectional view of the first modified embodiment of the key holder herein claimed.

FIGURE 10 is a side sectional view of the second modified embodiment of the key holder herein claimed.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the invention comprises an outside casing 10 which is a rectangular parallelepiped having separate front and rear end plates 12 and 14, respectively. Front end plate 12 has a rectangular slot 16 for passage of a key. A forward hole 18 and a rearward hole 20 are in the uppermost narrow side 22 of casing 10 and are of the same size. A sliding member 24 has a rectangular cross-section and fits loosely inside casing 10. Slide 24 has a hole 26 extending from the uppermost face 28 of said slide part way down toward the lowermost face 30 of said slide. A pin 32 having a spring 34 coiled around its shank 36 is placed in hole 26. The head of pin 32 comprises a disk portion 38 having a diameter greater than that of holes 18 and 20 and a slightly flattened hemispherical portion 40 having a diameter slightly less than that of holes 18 and 20.

from front face 44 part way back toward hole 26 and rear face 45 of slide 24. Two transverse slots 46, 48 in upper and lower slide faces 28, 30 respectively are perpendicular to the planes of slot 42 and side faces 50, 52 of slide 24, said slots. 46, 48extending all the way across slide 24 and disposed directly above and below each other. Two vertical slots 47,49 in side faces 50, 52 respectively of slide 24 are perpendicular to upper face 28 and lower face 30 and extend from upper transverse slot 46 to lower transverse slot 48. A U-shaped spring 54, having short inwardly bent ends, clips around slide 24 in slots 46, 47, 48 and 49.

The key 56 has a flat, rectangular head 58, the key being of substantially the same thickness throughout. Head 58 has two rounded corners 60 and two notches or slots 62, said slots 62 being disposed directly above and below each other.

A rectangular boss 64 on rear face 45 of slide 24 and a similar boss 66 on the inside face of rear end plate 14 are mounts for the ends of coil spring 68 which has a rectangular cross-section corresponding in proportion to that of housing 10.

When fully assembled and in retracted position, key 56 fits into slot 42 such that spring 54 snaps into notches 62, thereby holding key 56 firmly with respect to slide 24. Hemispherical portion 40 of pin 32 fits into rear hole 20, locking slide 24 in its rearmost position. In this position key 56 is fully retracted within casing 10.

In order to make use of key 56, pin 32 is depressed by finger pressure such that hemispherical portion 40 is below side 22 of casing 10. This permits pressure of spring 68 to push slide 24 forward until pin 32 is directly under forward hole 18, whereupon spring 34 pushes pin 32 upward until disk 38 bears against the inner portion of side 22, preventing further upward movement of pin 32. Hemispherical portion 40 is now in hole 18 and locks slide 24 against any additional movement, particularly against pressure of spirng 60. In this forward position key 56 extends through rectangular slot 16 and out of casing 10 far enough for insertion of the key in the lock. Casing 10 is now a convenient handle for key 56.

To retract key 56, pin 32 is pushed down so that hemispherical portion 40 is clear of side 22 and key 56 is pushed back into casing 10 until the forward end of key 56 just enters casing 10, in which pin 32 is directly below hole 20; pressure of spring 34 pushes pin 32 upward into hole 20 and thereby locks slide 24 and key 56 in the retracted position.

There are many possible modifications utilizing the principles of the invention above described. While two modified embodiments will be hereinbelow described, further arrangements and modified embodiments will be obvious to a person familiar with the art.

The first modified embodiment comprises two keys 56a, 56b moving colinearly with slides 24a, 24b respectively in a single casing 10a. Keys 56a, 56b are pushed in opposite directions by a single coil spring 68a connected to bosses 64a, 64b of slides 24a, 24b, respectively. Means for locking either key 56a, 56b in either retracted or extended position are completely analogous to such means above described in the unmodified embodiment; all other mechanical features of the first modified version are likewise identical to those of the unmodified version.

The second modified embodiment comprises two keys 56c, 56d moving parallel to and directly above and below each other, both of said keys 56c, 56d being in the same casing 10c and being extensible from the same end of said casing 100. All other mechanical features of the second modified version are identical to those of the unmodified version.

(b) a slide disposed within said casing and movable between first and second positions therewithin;

(c) latch means carried by said slide and cooperable with means on said casing to selectively secure said slide in said first or second position; 1

(d) spring means interconnecting one end of said casin and said slide for urging said slide into one of said positions; l

(e) means defining a first recess extending into said slide at one end thereof; 7

(f) means defining a second recess extending around selected portions of said slide, said second recess communicating with said first recess;

(g) key means including a shank portion and a slide engaging portion, said'slide engaging portion adapted for disposition within said first recess in said slide and including lock actuating means and lock receiving means; and

(h) lock means disposed within said second recess and extending therethrough into said first recess and operating With said lock actuating means and said lock receiving means in said slide engaging portion of said key whereby said key may be inserted and retained in said slide when said slide is disposed wholly within said casing.

2. In a key holder the combination comprising::

(a) a substantially tubular casing;

(b) first and second slides disposed within said casing, each of which is selectively movable between selected positions therewithin;

(c) latch means carried by each of said slides and cooperable with means on said casing to selectively secure each of said slides in a selected position relative to said casing and said other slide;

(d) spring means interconnecting said slides;

(e) each of said slides including means defining a first recess extending into each of said slides at one end thereof; 7

(f) each of said slides further including means defining a second recess extending around selected portions of each of said slides, said second recess communicating with said first recess;

(g) first and second key means each including a shank portion and a slide engaging portion, one of said slide engaging portions adapted for disposition within each of said first recesses in each of said slides and each of said slide engaging portions including lock actuating means and lock receiving means; and

(h) lock means disposed within said second recess of each of said slides and extending'therethrough into said first recessand cooperating with said lock actuating and said lock receiving means in said slide engaging portion of each of said keys whereby said keys may be inserted and retained in each of said 7 slides when said slides are disposed wholly within said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Preston Oct. 13, 1959 

1. IN A KEY HOLDER THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: (A) A SUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR CASING; (B) A SLIDE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CASING AND MOVABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS THEREWITHIN; (C) LATCH MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SLIDE AND COOPERABLE WITH MEANS ON SAID CASING TO SELECTIVELY SECURE SAID SLIDE IN SAID FIRST OR SECOND POSITION; (D) SPRING MEANS INTERCONNECTING ONE END OF SAID CASING AND SAID SLIDE FOR URGING SAID SLIDE INTO ONE OF SAID POSITIONS; (E) MEANS DEFINING A FIRST RECESS EXTENDING INTO SAID SLIDE AT ONE END THEREOF; (F) MEANS DEFINING A SECOND RECESS EXTENDING AROUND SELECTED PORTIONS OF SAID SLIDE, SAID SECOND RECESS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST RECESS; (G) KEY MEANS INCLUDING A SHANK PORTION AND A SLIDE ENGAGING PORTION, SAID SLIDE ENGAGING PORTION ADAPTED FOR DISPOSITION WITHIN SAID FIRST RECESS IN SAID SLIDE AND INCLUDING LOCK ACTUATING MEANS AND LOCK RECEIVING MEANS; AND (H) LOCK MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SECOND RECESS AND EXTENDING THERETHROUGH INTO SAID FIRST RECESS AND COOPERATING WITH SAID LOCK ACTUATING MEANS AND SAID LOCK RECEIVING MEANS IN SAID SLIDE ENGAGING PORTION OF SAID KEY WHEREBY SAID KEY MAY BE INSERTED AND RETAINED IN SAID SLIDE WHEN SAID SLIDE IS DISPOSED WHOLLY WITHIN SAID CASING. 